Jankowski confirmed his proud mother has requested a bunch of bobbleheads, perhaps as holiday stocking stuffers for family and friends, but the 23-year-old centre won’t be there to ensure Rosemary’s order is filled.

That doesn’t mean he isn’t hearing about it.

“It’s pretty cool, but yeah, we’ve been bugging him a little bit,” said defenceman Brett Kulak, a full-timer with the Flames this fall after spending chunks of the past two seasons with the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat. “I don’t think he liked how his beard was kind of red on the bobblehead. So that’s pretty funny.”

Indeed, a closer inspection of Saturday’s giveaway shows more than a few specks of ginger in Jankowski’s stubble, but fans in California — the Flames’ top affiliate is based about 120 km east of San Francisco — likely won’t get another opportunity to compare to the real deal.

The Flames’ first-round selection in the 2012 NHL Draft, Jankowski is done riding buses at the minor-league level.

His buddies are shooting for the same.

The Flames’ two-games-in-two-nights whirlwind through Toronto and Montreal was a prime example of the immediate impact of their recent recalls from Stockton.

With about 40 loved ones in attendance, Jankowski was arguably the best forward for the out-of-town squad in Wednesday’s 2-1 shootout loss to the host Toronto Maple Leafs. He was rewarded with a pair of shifts in overtime and almost ended it when he muscled his way to the net but couldn’t bury a backhander.

Mark Jankowski of the Calgary Flames skates away from a checking Connor Brown of the Toronto Maple Leafs on December 6, 2017, in Toronto.Claus Andersen /
Getty Images

It’s not YouTube material, but Hathaway provided the third-period tying tally — with an assist to video coach Jamie Pringle, who insisted on a challenge after it was initially waved off — in Thursday’s 3-2 overtime triumph against the host Montreal Canadiens. After racking up five hits and that same number of shots on net, the 26-year-old right-winger was sporting the Calgary Police Service cowboy hat, the players’ choice top-performer award.

Between the pipes, David Rittich continued to capitalize on his opportunity to prove he’s capable of big-league backup duties, out-duelling Habs puck-stopping star Carey Price in a 35-save showing. Not bad for a 25-year-old rookie with two NHL starts on his resume.

Calgary Flames goaltender David RittichAl Charest /
Postmedia

Kulak, meanwhile, has solidified his status as an everyday-er on the Flames back-end.

The 23-year-old has been healthy-scratched only once in the past 18 contests. He is barely talked about, usually a very good sign for a sixth defenceman.

“In Stockton, they’re always stressing how you’re only one call away,” said Kulak, now with a grand total of 50 games of major-league know-how. “Sometimes, it feels like you’re a long ways away, but you’re really so close to the NHL. And I think every player down there recognizes that, so everyone is competing so hard and working so hard.

“And it’s the same on every other team, so the games down there are super-competitive — the speed is high, and it’s a high quality of play. So the transition to the NHL, it’s making it easier and easier. I’m not saying you come into the NHL and have automatic success, but you know you can prepare yourself as much as possible being down there, and then when you do come up, you’re ready to go.

“And then when your call comes, you get a good opportunity. The door opens, so you have to jam your foot in there and keep it open.”

Calgary Flames d-man Brett Kulak.AL CHAREST /
POSTMEDIA

Heading into Saturday’s clash against the visiting Vancouver Canucks (8 p.m., CBC/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), that’s exactly what the latest arrivals are accomplishing.

Back in Stockton, the rest of the wannabes are tracking their progress.

“Anytime you see somebody get called up, you think, ‘Just keep working at it. That could be you one day.’ You’re hoping,” said Jankowski, who was named an AHL all-star last winter. “That just burns the fire a little more. You want that to be you. And you know that if you keep working at it, it can be you.”

Now, Jankowski is the proof.

Every farmhand in Stockton is working to eventually join him at the Saddledome.

A bobblehead would be a bonus.

“You can use Janko as an example — he’s an NHL player, and when you practise with a guy like that every day, you’re such good friends that you hope he doesn’t come back,” Hathaway said. “You hope for success for the guys because that group is so close, but they’re also so competitive, too.

“We have friends down there that are encouraging us, but they know there’s opportunity. And a lot of those guys will play in the NHL.”

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